Tourism - A Conceptual Framework

Chapter I- Tourism: A Conceptual Framework
Chapter I
Tourism: A Conceptual Framework
1.1
Tourism: Concept, Definitions, Types and Historical Development
1.2
Destination: Meaning, Destination Policy, Planning, Development and

Management
1.3
Tourism in the World Scenario
1.4
Tourism in India : An Overview
1.5
Tourism Development in Sikkim

1.5.1
Geographical Importance of Sikkim
1.5.2
Tourism Potentials of Sikkim
1.6
Tourism Products in Sikkim
1.7
Conclusion
Page 1
1.1.
Tourism:
Concept,
Definitions,
Types
and
Historical
Development
n simple terms Tourism is the act of travel for the purposes of leisure, pleasure
or business, and the provision of services for this act. There are two important
components that make up tourism. These are the (i) practice of travelling for
pleasure recreation etc. and (ii) the business of providing tours and services for
persons travelling. The issues incorporated in the first component are discretionary
income (i.e. money to spend on non-essentials), the time involved and the
infrastructure in the form of accommodation facilities and means of transport. Other
component has four basic services to be provided for Tourists. These are, travel
arrangements, board and lodge, food and entertainment.
The United Nations Conference on International Travel and Tourism held in Rome in
1963 considered a definition and recommended that it be studied by the United
Nations Statistical Commission. A revised definition was prepared and adopted. The
conference considered the term Visitor as any person visiting a country 1 other than
that in which he has his usual place of residence, for any reasons other than following
an occupation remunerated from within the country visited.
This definition covered: (i) Tourists, i.e. temporary visitors staying at least twenty
four hours in the country visited and the purpose of whose journey can be classified
under one of the following headings: (a) leisure ( recreation, holiday, health, study,
religion and sport), (b) business, family, mission, meeting. (ii) Excursionists, i.e.
temporary visitors staying less than twenty four hours in the country visited
(including travelers on cruises)
According to Prof. Hunziker and Krapf (1942) tourism is the totality of relationship
and phenomenon arising from the travel and stay of strangers, provided the stay does
not imply the establishment of a permanent residence and is not connected with a
1
Or a region, province, state/ Union Territory- if domestic tourism and long haul trip
by air when the destination is 12000 miles away.
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remunerated activity. Tourism is an activity of traveling people in the places outside

their non-residence, for not more than one year, for business, leisure and other
purposes (UNWTO, 1993).
J. Jafari ( May 2003) said, tourism now means different things to different people. To
governments, tourism may mean sources of employment, economic activities, per
capita expenditure, and multiplier effects; to the industry sectors, it may suggest
promotion, arrivals, length of stay, receipts; while to religious groups, it brings to
mind pilgrimage, spiritual search, universal brotherhood, unacceptable forms to
tourist practices. To anthropologists, tourism represents a domain of study which
includes contracts between the hosts and the guest, culture change, commoditization
of heritage, prudence. Finally , to the hosts destinations, tourism means American
tourists, Japanese tourists, inflation, intrusion; and to the tourists themselves,
tourism offers escape from the daily routines, indulgence in leisure pursuits, rests and
relaxation, education (p.6).
Types and Forms of Tourism
While discussing the types and forms of tourism it is better to identify and consider
the important parameters based on which we get different types and forms of tourism.
These types and forms of tourism are many and no single source of information can
cover all of these. But a detail knowledge and idea of destination resources,
destination environment and destination market analysis can introduce types and
forms rightly. So, types and forms of tourism are largely destination specific and ever
changing keeping in view the changing market areas and demand aspects.
Eco-tourism
Tourism that combines local economic development, protection of the quality of the
environment and promotion of the natural advantages and the history of an area. The
combination of all or some of the above mentioned kinds of tourism could contribute
significantly to the development of tourism in any country. The availability of tourist
packages involving gastronomy, entertainment and information about the cultural
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wealth of a country should be regarded as a priority issue for tourist agents, as it will
reduce the concentration of tourist activity in certain areas and will improve and
enrich the tourist.
Rural Tourism
Any form of tourism that showcases the rural life, art, culture and heritage at rural
locations, thereby, benefiting the local community economically and socially as
well as enabling interaction between the tourists and the locals for a more enriching
tourism experience an be termed as rural tourism. It is multifaceted and may entail
farm/agricultural tourism, cultural tourism, nature tourism, adventure tourism, and
eco- tourism. The stress of urban lifestyle has led to this counter- urbanization
approach to tourism. There are various factors that have lead to this changing
trend towards rural tourism like increasing levels of awareness, growing interest in
heritage and culture and improved accessibility and environmental consciousness,
Tourists like to visit villages to experience and live a relaxed and healthy lifestyle.
Ethnic Tourism
Ethnic tourism is travelling for the purpose of observing the cultural
expressions of lifestyles of truly exotic people. Such tourism is exemplified by travel
to Panama to study the San Blas Indians or to India to observe the isolated
hill tribes of Assam. Typical destination activities would include visits to native
homes, attending traditional ceremonies and dances, and possibly participating in
religious rituals.
Event Based Tourism
Events are an effective way of attracting visitors. Sikkim has been operating a number
of successful, long-running events, and over recent years new events have been
introduced. Major themes of existing events could be Tibatean food, wine, yak riding,
agricultural-related, fishing, heritage and gardening. Irrespective of the events devised
for Sikkim, it is essential that events are: Relevant to community in which they are
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held; Spread visitation across the year and the region; Support the theme for the town
and region; Reinforce the name Sikkim and its destinations in their publicity; and
Create interest for both local residents and visitors.
Conferences
A noticeable
trend in comparatively old destinations of Sikkim is the increasing
emphasis on MICE tourism. Opportunities exist to make greater use of Sikkim for
conferences with a separate positioning. However, tourism related infrastructure
development, quality accommodation etc. need would need to be addressed for future.
Sports Tourism
Sikkim has an immense potentiality for adventure and sports. This highly specialized
tourism activity can ensure quality tourism with high per capita tourist expenditure.
Recreational fishing, trekking, bi-cycling, river running, mountaineering, By working
with facility owners/managers and representatives of sporting organizations, there
may be potential for organized sporting events to be developed during times when the
facilities are not normally used.
Cultural Tourism
The regions cultural assets need to be utilized to create interesting experience,
opportunities for visitors. The Aboriginal culture at Cherbourg is considered to be
under-utilized as a tourism product, given the high standard of facilities available at
the community's visitor centre with its arts, crafts and botanic gardens. Activities
around the established farming venture have good potential for further development.
Special Interest Tourism
Small Sikkim has a wide ranging scope for special interest tourism with many unique
interest and fabulous experience. Orchid, wine, tea, forests, horticulture and
floriculture, ropeways, helicopter services, lakes are some of the key interest
components for unique experiences.
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Wine Tourism
Wine tourism is special-interest travel based on the desire to visit wine-producing
regions, or in which travelers are induced to visit wine-producing regions, and
wineries in particular, while travelling for other reasons (Getz, 2000).This definition
is a demand-side understanding of tourism behavior. The emphasis is on
understanding who engages in wine tourism, as well as why (e.g. motivation and
preferences) and how (e.g. where they go or what they do). From the destinations
perspective (supply-side), wine tourism is developing and marketing wineries,
vineyards, wine events and wine-related themes to attract visitors. Considering both
the demand and supply side aspects of wine tourism in Sikkim it can be said that the
State has a huge potentiality for wine tourism.
Cave Tourism
South Sikkim and West Sikkim are very famous places for ancient caves. Caves,
rocks and Stupas are important resources for cultural and special interest tourists in
Sikkim and almost all North-Eastern states in India.
Historical Evolution and Development
Travelling was always interesting and inquisitive to the global community right from
the early days. In ancient times, man travelled to fulfill basic requirement f gathering
food, he then made settlements and then travelled to sell his surplus crops and to meet
his relations. Man travelled thereafter in search of knowledge as well as business
opportunities. It indicates that the primary motivation for travel was not for pleasure
but mainly for trade, commerce and related activities during those days. Over the
years, new discoveries, automation and increase in wealth, led to travel for the sake
of rest and pleasure to get away from the monotony of daily life. These developments
paved the way for the development of travel and tourism in the subsequent period.
The Phoenicians were probably the first travelers in the modern sense.
Full credit
goes to them for the invention of money, in 3000 BC which in turn paved the way for
the development of trade and commerce. Traders could pay for travel and
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accommodation. This in turn established the way for development of organized travel.
Romans were in fact pioneers of pleasure tourism. They provided necessary
infrastructure such as good roads, places to stay en-route, travel booklets. Frequently,
they visited temples, monuments, pyramids, seaside resorts, spas and the fall of the
Roman Empire in the 5th Century AD, resulted in the fall of their pleasure travel.
This period, even today, is termed as the Dark Age for tourism. In the 16 th century,
the introduction of holidays was the landmark in the history of tourism. These
travellers belonged to the elite section of the society. The renaissance, development of
urban system and progress of the road system gave rise to tourism in Europe. Italy
which was the intellectual capital of Europe and attracted noble men from different
parts of Europe who considered travel as essential to complete their education. Thus
the concept of Grand Tour became popular. These tourists respected learning,
antiquities and social refinements of the old world. Travel increased with the increase
in new wealth in the hands of the middle class people. The years between 1763 and
1793 were considered to be the golden age of the Grand Tour. These grand tours
included the poets, authors, and intellectuals and they paved the way for popular
tourism in the 19th & 20th centuries. Military expeditions and wars resulted in the
mass movement of people, besides the discovery of new trade routes to hitherto
unknown destinations. In the middle ages the main motive for travel was religion.
Travel for religious purposes was a well established custom in most part of the world.
The spread of religion subsequently led to numerous pilgrims making their way to the
holy land. Pilgrimage provided the necessary impetus for the society to break out
its narrow confines and visit
places associated
with
religion. The powerful
influences of a crusading religion slowly penetrated a foreign land
such as
Christianity in Europe and later in America, Islam and Hinduism in Asia. In the 18th
century the middle income group began to travel from village to city, from city to city
and from country to country. The development of good transport and accommodation
further improved tourism. Moreover, the introduction of the railways in 1840 gave a
tremendous boost to tourism. In 1860, the first passenger traffic between Liverpool to
Manchester commenced. Organized rail travel came into being in 1841 when the
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Baptist preachers of Derbyshire engaged a special train from Leicester to

Loughborongh to take delegates to attend a meeting and bring them back. Later
Thomas Cook took about 570 passengers by Midland countries Railway at a specially
reduced rate in India, on April 16 th 1853, the first train service started form Bori
Bunder in Bombay to Thana covering a distance of 33 Kms. Today Indian Railways
have the third largest network in the world under a single management. The rail-road
development was followed by the motor cars which reduced travel time. The boom in
the tourist movement in Europe can be directly linked to the introduction of the
private motor car approximately ten years before the World War I. The development
of the motor car coach and improved road conditions led to a tremendous growth in
travel. While road and rail transport were limited to domestic tourism, the
introduction of steam ships, helped man to cross boundaries and promote intercontinental travel and promote international tourism. The adventurous seamen like
Christopher Columbus discovered new lands. Travel to America, the New World
was considered a land of opportunities and fortunes.
The tourism which was prospering in leaps and bounds suffered a set back during the
World War I. Tourism is global and national scale being possible only in times of
peace and prosperity, suffered yet another set back during the World War II which
brought in economic destruction and political instability. However, the period in
between the two world war saw fair amount of travel and tourism. The development
of Air transport after the second World War in 1950, gave a boost to tourism. The
society experiencing rising standard of living began to reap the benefits of faster and
economic travel through airways. Mass tourism thus emerged on a large scale. The
Industrial revolution was responsible for changes in the economic as well as social
systems prevailing at the time. A large number of factories came up, towns sprang up
which is turn necessitated larger scale migrations from the country sides to the
towns and cities.
During the Industrial Revolution, paid annual holidays were
awarded to the workers for work done for a year. Due to long working hours and
poor living conditions, the need for relief was acute for the working class and an
escape was the only answer to the problem. Those who could afford the escape
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proceeded to various resorts nearby forest and relaxation. Gradually better working
conditions, increase in material wealth
and
improvement
in
transport
and
communication during the second half of the 19th century, enabled industrial workers
to avail of holidays in faraway places for rest, relaxation and pleasure. Though
travel is as old as man himself and some record of ancient travel is available accurate
analysis of the measurement of travel can be traced back to just 50 years back. In
1975 World Tourism Organization came into existence with its headquarter at Madrid
in Spain. The W.T.O covers all sectors of tourism on world wide basis and provides
statistics to improve and regulate tourism in the world. In 1976, there were nearly
220 million international tourist arrivals in the world.
nearly 90% in the ten years preceding it.
This was an increase of
Economic fluctuations resulted in
temporary set back to the growth of tourism in early 70s and lower
purchasing power had brought this fall in tourist movements. But by 1992, travel
and tourism became the worlds largest industry and by all indications, heritage
and cultural tourism was found to be emerging as the fastest growing segment of the
industry. It provided the world with the employment opportunity and people
earned considerable foreign exchange for the nation concerned. Tourism, being a
smoke less industry, had a great demand in most countries.
Increased
per capita
incomes coupled with increasing prosperity induced a higher purchasing power

through the increase in the discretionary incomes.
1.2 Destination: Meaning, Destination Policy, Planning, Development

and Management
The term development incorporates economic growth and overall structural
development of a society through the eradication of socio-economic and cultural
drawback and adoption of sustainable practices. The term Destination policy,
planning and development (DPPD) is essentially an intellectual process that uses
information, judgment and monitoring to make macro-level decisions regarding the
kind of destination that is desirable, the degree to which ongoing performance and
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related changes in the nature of visitation and the physical character of the destination
are contributing to the achievement of the kind of destination that stakeholders want.
On the other hand Destination Management is more a micro-level activity in which
all the stakeholders carry out their individual and organizational responsibilities on a
daily basis in efforts to realize the macro-level vision contained in policy, planning
and development (Ritchie and Crouch, 2003). According to Goeldner et al. (2000),
tourism policy is A set of regulations, rules, guidelines, directives, and
development/promotion objectives and strategies that provide a framework within
which the collective and individual decisions directly affecting tourism development
and the daily activities within a destination are taken. Development policies for
tourism should consider economic and socio-cultural benefits to the host community;
farming, forestry, handicrafts, small scale industry and non-tourist services and these
sectors should be given the given priority as tourist development (Krippendorf; 1999).
Contemporary tourism policy focuses on competitiveness and sustainability, which
are also the major parameters of tourism destination management (TDM). Successful
TDM involves economic/business management skills balanced with environmental
management capabilities. Economic/business skills are those related to effective
resource development and deployment. Goeldner
planning,
marketing
management,
human
of the destination,
resources
et al. (2000) refer to: strategic
financial
management,
management,
information
operations
management
and
organization management. For destination purposes, strategic planning may be

defined as the process whereby an organization analyses the strengths and weaknesses
with respect to the supply development and demand development, decides the
position it seeks to attain, and defines strategies and programs of activity to achieve
the aims (Morrison, 1989;Goeldner et al., 2000).
According to Walker, J.R., & Walker, J.T. ( 2011), Planning involves selecting the
various goals that an organization wants to achieve and the strategies ( actions) to be
taken to ensure that those goals are accomplished (p.199). In organizations or in
destinations, executives or planners determine where the organization is and where it
wants to go. Goals are established for each of the key operating areas covering
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organizational structures, tourism related legislation and regulations, education and

training programs, availability of financial capital and mechanism to attract capital,
marketing strategies and last but not the least travel facilitation of immigration,
custom etc. Tourism planning begins with a strategic planning ( creating long term
plan) such as a tourism master plan which is also based on an environmental scan that
assesses socio-cultural, technological, economic, educational, political and legal
factors.
Following the Economic Survey of Sikkim (2006-07) it could be said that the people
of Sikkim will achieve their full potential by selecting tourism as a tool for their
growth and development strategy. The document also exhibited that the vision of
Sikkim is to develop a vibrant economy that creates wealth and jobs and provides
choices and opportunities for people to live, work and invest in Sikkim, and to
recognize the values of its unique environment for present and future generations. So,
the objective for tourism development in Sikkim will be recognized within five
years as the top performing tourist economy of its type in India, as a leading
destination for visitors, and as a leading region for North-East Indian business
successes. Besides, five important goals brought to light in the policy document e.g.
management goal, community goal, industry goal, consumer goal, marketing goal.
Several documents for tourism published by the government incorporate the area to
address a strategic business orientation. These are, rapidly growing tourism industry,
strong and diverse nature-based product, proximity to main source markets, high
standards of service and professionalism, sustainable and green marketing approach,
herbs, medicinal plants and rare orchids, Buddhist culture and heritage.
1.3 Tourism in the World Scenario

Tourism is emerging as a key driver of 21 st century economic and social evolution. It
is the largest creator of jobs, wealth and investment in the world. Over 8% of all jobs
worldwide was dependent on travel and tourism in 1999 and travel and tourism
supported the creation of over 5.5.million jobs per year till 2010. Spending by
international visitors amounted 8% of world exports in 1999 with further impact by
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the export of Travel & Tourism related goods. In the year 2006, World Travel &
Tourism Council (WTTC) forecasted that the travel & tourism would generate 234
million direct & indirect jobs world wide accounting for 8.7% of the global
employment during the next ten years.
According to them, India is going to be a tourism hot-spot from 2009 to 2018, having
the highest 10-year growth potential. The Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report
2007 ranked tourism in India sixth in terms of price competitiveness and 39th in
terms of safety and security. Despite short- and medium-term setbacks, such as
shortage of hotel rooms, tourism revenues are expected to increase by 42% from 2007
to 2017.
1.4 Tourism in India: An Overview

Tourism is an important engine of growth for the economy. There has been a
remarkable growth in the recent years in foreign tourist arrivals to India due to the
various efforts made including promoting India through the Incredible India
campaign in overseas market. It has increased by about 65% from level of 2.38
million in 2002 to 3.92 million in 2005. While the foreign exchange earnings grew by
about 96% during the same period. In the year 2006, the tourist arrivals increased to
4.43 million registering an impressive increase of 14.2% over 2005. With the increase
in the number of flights to & from India coupled with the escalating propensity
among middle class travelers to travel abroad. Indian Outbound market is expected to
get a quantum jump in 2006-2007. The figure may reach 8 million marks with visible
trend. It is estimated that year on 15% growth will be maintained. Among short have
destinations Indians visit Dubai, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Nepal, Srilanka,
Hong Kong, Maccau, Maldives, Uzbekistan, Kazaksthan etc. Among the long Haul
destinations preferences are for USA, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand and
France, Germany, Austria, Italy and Switzerland. Most of the holidaymakers use the
packages tours offered by tour operators like SOTC, Raj Tours, Cox & Kings etc.
Most national tourism organizations are confident that a vibrant market such as India
will yield high growth, making its desirable target market for 2007-2008 or 2009.
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Tourism in India is the largest service industry, with a contribution of 6.23% to the
national GDP and 8.78% of the total employment in India. In 2010, total Foreign
Tourist Arrivals (FTA) in India were 5.78 million and India generated about 200
billion US dollars in 2008 and that is expected to increase to US$375.5 billion by
2018 at a 9.4% annual growth rate.[1] The majority of foreign tourists come from USA
and UK. Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan are the top five
states to receive inbound tourists. Domestic tourism in the same year was 740 million.
Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra received the big share
of these visitors. Ministry of Tourism is the nodal agency to formulate national
policies and programs for the development and promotion of tourism. In the process,
the Ministry consults and collaborates with other stakeholders in the sector including
various Central Ministries/agencies, the state governments and union territories and
the representatives of the private sector. Concerted efforts are being made to promote
new forms of tourism such as rural, cruise, medical and eco-tourism. The Ministry of
Tourism also maintains the Incredible India campaign. India can boast of one of the
most ancient civilization in the world. Its rich and diversified culture, tradition,
heritage, cuisine and hospitality are the new source attraction features if tourism. The
7th 5 Year Plan, for the first time, moved towards the promotion of India as an
ultimate holiday destination with its newly introduced beaches, hill stations,
adventure sports and such other alternative tourism attractions as may be
economically viable, environmentally sensitive, socially and culturally respectful.
Page 13
Figure 1.1 Development Initiative of Tourism in India

Development Initiatives
Objectives and Importance
The Sargent Committee( 1945, Objectives
submitted its report in 1946)
To survey the potentials of developing

tourist traffic
To create ways and means of developing
places of tourist interest
To suggest what facilities will be
required
To recommend what actions shall be
taken
To deal with other aspects of tourist
traffic
Importance
Tourism in India developed properly only after a
Central Tourist Organization was set up as a
result of the recommendation of the Sargent
Committee. A separate tourist branch was
created in 1949 but the whole time attention was
confined only to the number of tourist traffic in
the
country.
Sargent
Committee
also
recommended one Central Office and regional

offices. It also recommended tourist publicity
cell in Indian Embassies and Consulates all over
the world.
Objectives
Page 14
Ad
hoc
Tourist

To look after a large number of travel subjects
Traffic which
Committee 1948
included
international
and
development
external
of
tourist
both
traffic,
legislative matters, Five Year Plans, travel

agencies, hotel and rest houses, facilitation,
tourist statistics and monthly reports.
Importance
It was entrusted with the job of suggesting ways
and means of promoting tourist traffic to and in
India
A separate tourist traffic branch was set up
under the Ministry of Transport in 1949.
It also participated in conference of United
Nations and its agencies.
It established a coordination with the Ministry
of Railways
It established tourist bureaux in states and
developed tourist centers.
It arranged training programs for tour guides
and escorts.
Air Corporation Act (1953)
With the help of this Act the Government of

India nationalized the Air Transport Companies
with two national undertakings namely- Air
India and Indian Airlines
A separate tourism department was set up
Page 15

By the Presidential order dated 14 March 1967,
the Department of Aviation and Tourism which
Formation of the Ministry of was under the Ministry of Transport and Civil
Tourism ( 1958)
Aviation was formed into a separate Ministry

designated as the Ministry of Tourism and Civil
Changes of name of the Ministry Aviation, with two constituent departments

(1967)
Department of Tourism
Department of Civil Aviation

Following the report of the Ad hoc Committee
on Tourism also known as the Jha Committee
(1963) which recommended that the public
sector should assume a more positive role in
promoting tourism, the Government of India set
up in 1965 in the Department of Tourism three
separate corporations, viz. Hotel Corporation of
India
Limited,
India
Tourist
Transport
India
Tourism
Setting up of Jha Committee
Undertakings
( 1963)
Corporation Limited. These three undertakings
Limited,
were set up under the provision of the

Companies Act 1956.
For better coordination the Government of India
merged Hotel Corporation of India Ltd., India
Tourism Corporation Ltd. and India Tourist
Transport Undertakings Ltd into one composite
undertaking called India Tourism Development
Page 16

Corporation.
Setting up of India Tourism
Only export industry status was accorded and
Development Corporation (1966)
not the status of an infrastructure industry as

yet.
Advocated private sector participation
Development of selected tourist places
Diversification from cultural related tourism
to holiday and leisure tourism.
1st ever Tourism Policy of the
Development of adventure sports.
Union
Exploring new source markets
Government
of
India
came into being during 1982.
Restoration of national heritage projects.

Launching of national image building.
During the 8th 5 Year Plan
Providing inexpensive accommodation in
( 1992-97), 15 states and 3 Union
different tourist places.
Territories had declared tourism
Improving service efficiency in public sector
as an industry and four states
corporations.
declared hotel as an industry.
Streamlining of facilitation procedures.

Eight Plan Program
The Central Sector Tourism Plan encompassed
(i)
Department of Tourism
(ii)
India Tourism Development
Corporation
(iii)
Man-Power and Institutional

Development
The
National
Committee
on
Tourism was set up in July 1986
by the Planning Commission to
The
Committee
recommended
that
the
Page 17
prepare a perspective plan for

existing Department of Tourism be it replaced
tourism.
Committee,
by a National Tourism Board. It also
headed by Mohammad Yunus,
recommended a separate group of workforce
submitted its recommendation in
with all required skills and competencies. A
November 1987.
suggestion was made to look after the
This
functioning of the Board.

The
Tourism
Finance
Corporation of India (TFCI) was Objectives and Importance

set up in 1987 with a corpus fund Its purpose was to cater for the needs of funds
of Rs. 100 crores.
for all tourism related projects in India,

especially large projects.
Finally
Tourism
Finance Objectives and Importance
Corporation of India (TFCI) was Socio-economic development of areas.

set up in 1989.
Increasing employment opportunities.

Developing domestic tourism for the economy
class tourists.
Preserving national heritage and environment.
The National Action Plan for Development of international tourism

Tourism ( 1992)
Diversification of tourism product

Increase in Indias share in world tourism.
Other provisions of Action Plan were
Discontinuance of subsidies to star hotels.
Increase in foreign investment
Setting up of a convention city for developing
convention tourism.
Selection and development of Special Tourism
Areas( STA)
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The most significant feature of the tourism industry is its capacity to generate large
scale employment opportunities particularly in remote and backward areas. It offers
enormous potential for economic utilization of the natural attractions like landscape,
mountains, beaches, rivers etc., which would otherwise remain either idle or under
utilized. It also applies to a multitude of man-made attractions like monuments,
palaces, forts and unique rural and city environments. A desirable feature of tourism
industry is that it employs a large number of women both educated and uneducated. It
has a natural affinity to the nature of women, as hospitality is an industry in which
women have been participating for centuries. In fact, women are in large numbers in
hotels, airline services, travel agencies, handicrafts making, cultural activities and
other tourism related activities.
Total employment both direct and indirect
employment inclusive was 20.0 million in 1995-96 (Ministry of Tourism, 1996). The
labour capital ratio per million rupees of investment at 1985-86 prices in the hotel
and restaurant sector is 89 jobs as against 44.7 jobs in the case of agriculture and 12.6
jobs in the case of the manufacturing industries (Ministry of Tourism, 2010). So,
considering all the segments of tourism industry the job ratio is 47.5 which is still
higher than the manufacturing and agricultural sectors respectively. Under this
scenario we made an attempt to analyze the growth and variation in the international
tourist arrivals in India over the period 1980-81 to 2008-09. The whole period is
again sub-divided into two sub-periods Period I, ranging from 1980-81to 1990-91,
is the period
prior to the introduction of globalization in Indian economy and the second subperiod (1991-92 onwards) is the period of global economy in India. Here the null
hypothesis was coefficient of variations (CVs) is identical over two sub-periods i.e.
before and after the globalization.
Table 1.1: Variation in the arrivals of tourists from 15 destinations
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DESTINATIONS
U.K
U.S.A
CANADA
FRANCE
SRI LANKA
GERMANY
JAPAN
MALAYSIA
AUSTRALIA
NEPAL
SINGAPORE
ITALY
NETHERLAND
SOUTH KOREA
SPAIN
CV for subperiod I
26.35968
16.85246
18.25046
18.17561
5.638795
18.73812
29.22112
12.55341
16.89967
22.02095
18.84868
23.6091
28.34046
25.55946
29.47905
CV for sub-period
II
38.19685
56.87918
51.99451
39.81235
34.42775
89.49201
29.80759
41.20553
52.95312
44.09015
32.68478
27.70551
25.30306
75.90588
44.84351
More specifically, the coefficient of variation over the years for the period II was
considerably high compared to the period I irrespective of geographical location and
socio-economic disparities. So, tourist arrivals during the period I was more
consistent than period II. The arrivals of tourists from Europe and North American
continents has been drastically loosing consistency with all type increases in variation
though these are believed to have been the most important contributors in the
international tourism receipts for India. This may be because of the poor
infrastructural level, internal civil unrest in various parts of the country and
consequent negative promotion, poor hygiene level and hospitality from within the
country. Some important international reasons are world wide threat to terrorism,
global economic recession and industrial downfall in developed countries, changes in
Page 20
civil aviation marketing, rising up of competitive South/ Asian destinations with

distinct competitiveness and certain special types of tourism.
Variation was comparatively less over two different periods for Japan because of
MICE centric and organized leisure travel while other two countries like Sri Lanka
and Nepal registered a significant variation as the reasons to visit India were different
and related to VFR and common interest tourism.
Another study of international tourist arrivals exhibited the same trend of consistency.
If a tourist arrival is one of the criteria to explain the market trend the Asian and
Australian tourism market are found to be more consistent than European market.
But, European market ensures more tourist arrivals than Asia or Australia or North
American continent. Following is the table showing growth rates of tourist arrivals in
India.
Table 1. 2: Growth Rates of Tourist Arrival in India from top 15 destinations

Destination
U.K
Period I Period II Trend

break
*
*
6.64
6.96
0.32
R2
0.97
D.W.
statistic
1.75
Page 21
U.S.A
Canada
France
Sri Lanka
Germany
Japan
Malaysia
Australia
Nepal
Singapore
Italy
Netherland
South Korea
Spain
(6.093)
6.40*
(4.816)
6.58*
(5.283)
4.36**
(2.587)
3.38**
(2.482)
5.52**
(2.2390
4.72**
(2.476)
4.42*
(3.867)
5.55**
(2.609)
6.21*
(3.122)
4.45*
(3.277)
4.13**
(2.118)
3.93**
(2.092)
9.34*
(3.011)
7.09*
(3.538)
(14.95)
8.21*
(9.449)
7.75*
(10.97)
4.53*
(5.452)
3.77*
(3.984)
4.84*
(5.917)
5.59*
(6.486)
5.60*
(10.01)
6.59*
(6.319)
6.83*
(8.304)
5.64*
(7.85)
3.48*
(4.678)
6.43*
(6.426)
13.18*
(11.13)
6.37*
(9.428)
(0.381)
1.81**
(2.008)
1.17***
(1.703)
0.16
(0.123)
0.38
(0.432)
-0.68
(-0.362)
0.87
(0.603)
1.17
(1.367)
1.03
(0.649)
0.62
(0.407)
1.18
(1.183)
-0.64
(-0.431)
2.50***
(1.816)
3.83***
(1.83)
-0.72
(-0.464)
0.97
1.82
0.96
1.62
0.88
1.71
0.92
1.53
0.56
2.13
0.90
1.77
0.96
1.56
0.91
2.11
0.92
2.17
0.94
1.82
0.70
2.12
0.93
1.99
0.94
2.08
0.81
1.62
*, ** and *** mean significant at 1%, 5% and 10 % respectively.

The above table interprets that tourist arrivals from European countries were
traditionally inconsistent with negative trend break for three countries and poor
differences. It may be because of a negative image caused by poor quality
infrastructure, poor hospitality and hygiene condition, rigid regulatory access to
airports and other entrance areas, internal civil unrest etc. Some other important
global factors were economic recession, threat to terrorism, emergence of other
competitive Asian destination and underestimation of MICE tourism, special interest
tourism, adventure tourism, shopping and recreation tourism and such other forms of
Page 22
tourism as may be found to be important for changing Unique Selling Proportion

(USP). This market study exhibited an over all two types of market trends viz.
consistent and inconsistent. European market was found to be inconsistent and
dwindling. It is also noticeable that the number of arrivals from European countries
was considerably high over all period of time. A concrete and concerted
understanding of demand and supply will contribute to the overall development and
marketing strategy of Tourism Destinations for European market in India.
So, inconsistently high number of tourist arrivals from Europe has shown an
oscillatory ever fluctuating market trends for which supply components of tourism
can be unstable along with the cumulative effects of seasonal fluctuations. Again
dependencies on Asian and Australian tourists have led to an Asia-Centric market. So
present International Tourism Market for India is traditionally European Tourism
development directed, but practically consistent only for non-European countries.
1.5 Tourism Development in Sikkim

Sikkim is a small hilly state, bounded by vast stretches of Tibetan plateau in the
North, the Chumbi Valley and the kingdom Bhutan in the East, the kingdom of Nepal
in the west and Darjeeling (West Bengal) in the South. Its latitude is 27 030l north and
the longitude is 88030l east. Sikkim is famous for scenic valleys, forest, snow clad
mountains, magnificent Buddhist culture and heritage and peace-loving people.
Though small, the environmental, social and cultural diversities are not so.
Sikkim has been given many names. The Lepchas, original inhabitants of the land
called it Nye-mae-el `paradise'. The Limbus named it Su Khim or `new house' while
to the Bhutias it was Beymul Demazong `the hidden valley of rice'. Some scholars
believe that the word Sikkim involves Nepalese dialect and it refers to a now place
or the term has been derived from a Sanskrit word which means a mountain crest.
The people of Sikkim have ethnic diversity. The Bhutias came from Tibet, the
Lepchas were the aboriginal community and the Nepalese came from Nepal. When
Sikkim was an independent state it faced many invasion by its neighboring countries
and the king took the help of the British India and, later, gifted some of its region
Page 23
including Darjeeling to the British India. Now this 22nd Indian State (joined Indian
Union in 1975) has Over 81% of the total geographical area under the administrative
managerial control of the Ministry of Environment and Forest, Government of India.
Over 45% of the total geographical area of the state is under tree cover and nearly
34% of the geographical area is set aside as protected area network in the form of
national park and wildlife sanctuary.
1.5.1 Geographical Importance of Sikkim

The second smallest State of the Indian Sub-Continent, Sikkim is situated in the
mighty Eastern Himalayas spreads below the worlds third highest mountain
Kanchenjunga worshipped by the Sikkimese as their protective deity. Sikkim is
separated by the Sangalila range from the Nepal in the West, Chola range from Tibet
in the North-East and Bhutan in the South-East.Rangit and Rangpo rivers with the
Indian State of West Bengal in the South. On the west side is the massive 31 km. long
Zemu glacier.
Figure 1.2: Four districts of Sikkim
Page 24
Source: http://www.sikkim.gov.in/ dated 31.7.2011.

In term of longitude the state of Sikkim is bounded by 880058 East and 8855,25,,
East of longitudes (east of Greenwich) while in its latitudinal extent the state lies
between 2704,46,, North and 2807,48 North latitudes i.e. North of Equator. In its
area, the state roughly stretches for about 112.70 kilometers in north south direction
and for about 64 kilometers in its east-west direction. The total geographical area of
the state as par Census of India is 7906 square kilometers.
Page 25
Physiography
The thimble sized Sikkim is like an irregular rectangular in shape and rugged and
mountainous state. Even the river valleys too limit themselves to the course through
which they flow with a rare exception of tiny level patches found here and there. The
streams and rivulets dont flow through gorgeous channels, at places resembling to
mini canyons. The territory falling within the state runs through the inner Greater
Himalaya and the snow clad mountains appear to be projecting southward. The whole
Sikkimese landscape provides a sweeping panorama of mountains, sky and emerald
lakes cupped in the towering folds of rock- walls. During the organic, i.e. , mountain
building process as a result of compressional forces the stratified sediments of the
Tethys Sea were folded. However, the least affected places by the bucking up forces
were not drained out and thus created some exotic reservoirs of water. The Green
Lake is one such instance. Sikkim is separated from the neighboring foreign lands,
i.e. Bhutan, Tibet, and Nepal by way of wall like steep mountain-peaks which range
in their elevation from 3600 meters to 9100 meters above mean sea level. It is only in
the South that it has no such physiographic barriers which separate it from West
Bengal. The Dongkya range is situated in the eastern side and forms a section of the
Indo-Tibetan Border and passes southwards along the Indo-Bhutan frontier. On an
average, its altitude covers around 5000 meters above mean sea level but its loftiest
elevation is located in the northern part charecterised by a 7134 meters high peak,
above the mean sea level. This wall like steep peak feature on the east is negotiable
through the strategic passes of the Nathula (4750 meters or 15512 feet), Jelepla (4450
meters or 13254 feet) and Wangkurla (4320 meters or 12998 feet) passes. Other
passes are Kinchinjahan (6900 meters or 22700 feet), the Siniolchu (6815 meters or
22620 feet) and the Chorniome (6800 meters) above the mean sea level, located on
the Sikkimese Himalaya. In between the loftiest mountains on the eastern and westen
sides of Sikkim, are located many deeps, narrow and canyon like gorgeous valleys
with the valley of Teesta as the Principle valley of Sikkim. Following are the major
peaks in or around Sikkim.
Page 26
Figure1.3: Major Peaks in or around Sikkim
Source: http://www.sikkim.gov.in/ dated 31.7.2011.

Drainage
The drainage pattern of Sikkim is dendritic in nature i.e. the criss-crossing streams of
the region appear like a tree wherein the Teesta river in its lower course is the trunk,
whereas, other streams, rivulets and torrents are the branches, sub-branches, twigs
and leaves. Moreover, the drainage pattern of is consequent. In other words the rivers,
streams and rivulets of Sikkim are post-Himalayan in origin.
Rainfall
An examination of available rainfall data shows that the mean annual rainfall is
minimum at Thangu (82 mm.) and maximum at Gangtok(3494 mm.). An isohyetal
analysis of these data reveals that there are two maximum rainfall areas (i) South-East
quadrant, including Mangan, Singhik, Dikchu, Gangtok, Rongli etc. (ii) South - West
corner including Hilley. In between these two regions, there is a low rainfall region
e.g. Namchi. Rainfall in this area is about half of that in the former areas. There is an
area in the North- West Sikkim, which gets very little rainfall (even less than 4.9
mm.). This area has mainly snow-covered mountains. Rainfall is heavy and well
distributed during the months from May to early October. July is the wettest month in
most of the places. The intensity of rainfall during Southwest monsoon season
decreases from South to North, while the distribution of winter rainfall is in the
opposite order. The highest annual rainfall for the individual stations may exceed
Page 27
5000 mm. and average number of rainy days (days with rain of 2.5 mm. or more)
ranges from 100 at Thangu to 184 at Gangtok. The average rainfall varies between
125 cm and 500 cm. Gangtok receives about 360 cm. of annual rainfall while Namchi
and Nayabazar receive 155 cm. and 140 cm. of annual rainfall. During the winter a
sizeable part of the state receives copious snowfall.
Climate and Temperature
Valleys characterized by elevations of less than 600 meters above sea level
experience moist tropical or humid tropical climate. But as one climbs up, the
temperatures start falling and areas laying between 600 meters to 2000 meters above
sea level enjoy cool temperate climatic conditions. Further up, it is cold temperate
climatic conditions which prevail in area having elevation between 2000 meters to
3000 meters above mean sea level.
The foothill zone adjacent to the West Bengal border experiences relatively high
temperatures during summer. Elsewhere the summer are pleasant or cool or cold
depending largely on altitude. At Nayabazar, situated at the most southern section of
the state, the temperatures are as high as 40 0 C during Summer. But when one goes
towards the southern part with rising relief, there is Namchi (35 0C during the
summer). These are however, the maximum temperatures during the summer season
and the minimum temperatures may fall by 50 C. As one goes high and high, the
temperature falls and coldness increases till the snowline is reached which itself is
determined by altitude and aspect. The area which have elevation of more than 5000
meters above sea level have perpetually snow-clad mountains and obviously enjoys
Arctic type of climate.
In January the temperatures in Sikkim range from 4 0 to 140 C (390 to 570 F); In May
the temperatures range from 140 to 220 C (570 to 720 F). Though Sikkim is an integral
part of India its climatic condition largely varies from the main land. This region can
not be simply defined as monsoonal or Tropical Moist. The Capital city, exotic
Gangtok enjoys the summer temperature ranging from 23.30 C to 21.30 C respectively.
Page 28
Nearest Railway Station

The closest railhead is at New Jalpaiguri in West Bengal, 148 km from Gangtok.New
Jalpaigiri and Siliguri are well connected with Kolkata, Guwahati and other major
Indian Cities. But reservation service is available at special booking office in
Gangtok.
Nearest Airport and Helicopter Service
The closest Indian airport is at a distance of 124 km from Gangtok at Bagdogra, in
West Bengal. Bagdogra is well connected with Kolkata, New Delhi, Guwahati and
other major Indian cities. Though Sikkim has no airport as such, yet its helicopter
service are among the very few chopper services in India. The Bagdogra airport is
connected to Gangtok by a helicopter service, which takes approximately 30 minutes
to Gangtok. Sikkim Tourism Development Corporation operates this service daily.
Road
NH-31 is the life line of Sikkim. Gangtok is well connected by this NH31 and 114 km
from Siliguri and takes 4hours by Bus and less then 4 hours by other vehicles.
Gangtok is also connected by road with Darjeeling, Kalimpong and with Bhutan,
Phuntsholing (6 hrs.). the longest north-south distance is about a hundred kilometers
and the east-west breadth ranges between 60 and 70 kilometers. Its total area is 7299
square kilometers.
Forestry and Wildlife Sector
Aforestation is one of the major activities of the Department. Although a forestation
was carred out since inception of the Department, it took pace with the announcement
of the year 1995 as Harit Kranti Year by the Government. Since then the State
Government has given top priority for creating more and more green cover in forests
as well as in private wastelands. Since then, over 45000 hectare of degraded forest
lands and about 15000 hectare of private land has been covered by tree, fodder,
Page 29
fuelwood and ornamental plantations and by aided natural regeneration. Forest

Protection: Of late, protection of forests has become the challenging task for the
Department. With the explosion of population, the hunger for more and more timber
and other forests produce has risen. Establishment of Wireless Communication
Network: To protect forests from illegal felling and theft of forest produce, the
department has established wireless communication network connecting the Blocks
with the Ranges, Sub-Divisions, Divisions and Circles of both the Territorial and
Wildlife Wings. Amendment Sikkim Forests, Water Courses, Road Reserve
(Protection and Preservation) Act,1988.
Kanchanjunga National Park: The initial area of this National Park was 850 sq. km.
The park area was extended to 1784 sq. km. for conservation of high altitude flora
and fauna o the state. Kanchanjunga Biosphere Reserve: It is with the core area of
1784 sq.km. and buffer zone of 835.92 sq.km. It was declared a biosphere reserve on
7th February 2000. State level Biosphere Reserve Committee and Biosphere Reserve
Committee ( local committee) were constituted vide Notification No. 369/F, ENV&
WL dated 16th December 2000.The Management Plan of the Biosphere Reserve for
the year 2001-02 with the financial target of Rs. 101.72 lakh has been submitted to
the Ministry of Environment and Forest, Govt. of India. Himalayan Zoological Park:
It is located at Bulbuley near the Capital of Sikkim. The initial project costs were
Rs.467.00 lakhs. The infrastructural development of the zoological park started in the
8th Five Year Plan. A revised form of the Project has been introduced in the year 200001 with the target of Rs.1060.00 lakhs.
1.5.2 Tourism Potentials of Sikkim

Sikkim is politically divided into 4 Districts, North (Mangan) being away from large
market of West Bengal but with immense tourism potentialities. The capital city of
Gangtok enjoys the development of infrastructure, all modern civil amenities,
access to health and education facilities and employment opportunities compared to
all other 3 Districts, South (Namchi) West (Gyashing) and East (Gangtok). Moreover
North Districts is unfavorable in terms of its topography because of extreme climate
Page 30
and mountainous terrain, which range in height from 17,000ft to 28,000ft., unlike the
other districts. The habitations are scattered, there are very few roads and the area is
traversed by a single state highway, only 7.69% of Sikkims population live in this
district, which account for 60% of land area, its population density is consequently
extremely low at only 7 persons per sq. kms. compared to 187, 131,84 in East , South
and West Districts respectively. Following is the figure showing the trends of tourism
growth in terms of arrivals of tourists in Sikkim.
Figure 1.4: Tourist Arrivals of Sikkim
Source: Sikkim Tourism Development Corporation, Govt. of Sikkim
This diagram has clearly exhibited the growth trends from 1980 to 2011 with a
dwindling trend for the last few years. This is also noteworthy to mention that the
domestic tourist arrivals largely influence the overall market trend for tourism in
Sikkim.
As the tourist arrival is one of the certain economic variables, its measurement of
growth rate is imperative in destination development literature. The most appropriate
Log-Lin model was used to compute the growth rate of tourist arrivals.
Here, the basic model is ,
Yt Y0 (1 r )t ,
which on taking logarithm becomes
Page 31
ln Yt ln Y0 t ln(1 r ) .
Taking , 1 = ln Y0 and 2 = ln(1 r ) , the model can be rewritten as
ln Yt 1 2t
Adding the disturbance term ut to the above model we have
ln Yt 1 2t ut
2
where, ui : N (0, )
For domestic tourists arrivals the model is derived to be,

ln Yt 9.59 0.11t
And the same for international tourists arrivals is,
ln Yt 7.37 .084t
Keeping in view the above equations with positive growth rates, it may be forecasted
that the arrivals of both the types of tourists will increase for the next years also. The
forecasted arrivals of tourists are 6,15,383 and 24,101 for domestic and international
tourists respectively. From the measure of Coefficient of Variation (CV) it may be
noted that the domestic tourist arrival is more fluctuating with its CV of 0.11 and the
same for the foreign travellers is .084.
1.6 Tourism Products in Sikkim

Gangtok
Gangtok is the capital of Sikkim. Its name generally means High Hill. Situated at
over 5000 feet above sea level, the city looks to be tucked away in a cloud sprawling
over a hill. The third highest mountain peak, Kanchanjunga can be viewed as a
spectacle of wonders manifold. Some of the important sites of Gangtok, like the
Palace Chapel Tsuklakhang, the deer park, Institute of Tibetology and the Nymgyal
chorten are located on the spine of the ridge.
Tusklakhang
Tusklakhang Royal Chapel is situated on a level ground of the Palace complex. On all
corners of the Chapel are located at the formidable heads of snow lions-wood
Page 32
sculpture in relief. Magnificent wooden sculpture can also be found inside the Chapel.
The sculpture is highlighting the massive Buddhist murals the adorn the walls. An
eternal butte-lamp light the floor to ceiling alters, housing the deities and the
sculptures. This place is also important as a venue of almost all festivals. To worship
Kanchanjunga its indigenous warrior dance and Hat dance to celebrate the New Year
are some of the festivals celebrated in this chapel. Previously the coronation of
Chogyals, Oath taking by counselors and royal weddings were celebrated inside the
chapel.
The Research Institute or Namgyal Institute of Tibetology
This institute is situated at the top of the hill and was established to promote research
on Tibet and Mahayana Buddhism. This institute is known as the highest seat of
learning among the Mahayana scholars. It was inaugurated by Pandit Nehru on
October 1, 1958. The institute has its interiors lavishly decorated with great murals
and ornate wood carvings. The cabinets of the halls contain a vast library of Tibetian
deities. It contains a greatest collection of books on Mahayana Buddhism. The
museum of the institute also contains two hundred icons, prized objects of traditional
art, ritualistic chortens, brass bells, Dorjis (thunder bolts), Rosaries, thangkas ( hand
printed scrolls woven or appliqu), are the main collection of the museum which have
won international prestige. This institute is open from Monday to Saturday.
Deer Park
On the southern fringes of Tashiling, a valley drops a sheer thousand meter below and
the Deer park of Gangtok. An image of the lord Buddha in his preaching posture can
be found in the park. Originally the park is a sanctuary for deer. To walk around, to
the smoothing ripples of the Rongnek, stream added with the charming site of spotted
deer and long horned antilopes would really prove to be a prized walk.
Orchid Sanctuary
it is situated below the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology. A large variety of orchids
ranging from the commonest variety to rarest ones are found in the sanctuary.
Page 33
Government Cottage Industries Institute

This multi-craft institute is actually named after the last Chogyal Palden Thondup.
The locally available handicrafts are sold in this institute. Beautiful hand woven
woolen carpets with traditional Sikkimese motifs and and unique designs and
combination are in great demand in Sikkim and abroad. The handsome woolen
texture and durables, plush and are dyed not with synthetic dyes but traditional
Sikkimese vegetable dyes. The design varies from sophisticated harmonious tones to
the rioting of vermillion against intense blues. Another exclusive product of the
institute is the Sikkimese table locally called Choktse. It is foldable and prepared in
varying desins and dimensions. The hand-made paper is an another product
demanded inside and outside the state. The traditional Sikkimese weaves and woolen
blankets which can be designed into bags, shawls, jackets, opulent Sikkimese thankas
( traditional tapestry) leather works, dolls, Appliqu work, batiks, and exquisite
selection of dolls, and variety of fashionable garments for modern people are the
other displayed specialties of the institute.
Gate Ways
The Gateways of Gangtok city have been designed in a very attractive and artistic
manner. There is a strange enchantment and charm about these gates. The gate that
spans the entrance to Tashiling has a beauty of its own. The Sikkimese art and the
minute skill depicted by the indigenous artists are visible on these structures.
Khabelongstok
At a distance of about 21km from Gangtok is located a historic Kabi or
Khabelongstok the venue where blood brotherhood was sworn between Khye-Bumsa,
the renowned ancestor of Namgyals, the former ruling house of Sikkim and Thekong
Tek the then and last Lepcha Chief. A memorial stone adorns the place as a testimony
to the historic and sacred agreement. Thousands of prayer flugs stand on the hill
Page 34
above and people from all corners of the state come to show their religious attitude
and spiritual salvation.
Flower Festival and in Gangtok and Namchi
As Sikkim is known to have a wide range of flowers and plants, flower festivals are
in vogue in Sikkims culture of its nature loving people. These frower festivals draw a
great number of target clienteles. Sikkim is the home to the rare species of
Rhododendrons, orchids, primulas, and host of other flowers, which is exhibited
throughout the year at the annual flower festival that is being held in Gangtok, for
tourists. Flower festival at Namchi needs special attention for the floricultural
potentialities throught the State.
Samdruptse
The State Government has embarked on a very ambitious project of implementing the
project of constructing a 108 feet statue of the Lord Guru Padmasambhava at
Samdruptse in South Sikkim at a total cost of Rs. 6 crores. The project is being
speedily implemented and the necessary infrastructure Such as road, water, site
leveling etc. had completed. The Government of Sikkim has entrusted the religious
aspects of the construction of the statue, the design and its dimensions to Ven.
Dodrupchen Rimpoche. To facilitate tourists moving up from Namchi to Samdruptse
and in order to give them a panoramic view of Namchi town, the Department has
completed process of installing a ropeway from Namchi to Samdruptse.
Adventure activities and Sikkim
Sikkim is abounded with a variety of adventure activities. From a mere offering of
leisure, pleasure and recreation, Sikkim is increasingly intended to attract alternative/
responsible tourists by targeting an environmentally conscious clienteles. In future,
adventure activities and sports will gain a currency over conventional mass tourism,
particularly among the foreign independent travelers. The river stretch of the river
Teesta, lofty mountains and their peaks, lush green forest, idyllic snow-clad
Page 35
mountains, forbidden exotic local people in inaccessible areas, multiethnic

communities and above all the calm, coolness and complete quiet make the place
ideal for explorers, drifters and adventurers. Its adventure activities include the
following:
River rafting/ running: Sikkim has a world famous river-stretch in the river Teesta
that attracts thousands of river runners in the country and outside the world. River
Rangeet also offers a white water action with every blend of the revealing new
panoramas-gorges with vegetation covered vertical walls soaring from the swift
waters, luxurious waterfalls and tranquil lakes.River Running Infommation
Sikkim Tourism organizes package programs during October November and can
prepare special itineraries for interested groups. Prior permission is required for
conducting
rafting.
Teesta
Experience:
MakhaSirwaniBordangRangpo
Rangeet Experience: SikipJorethangMajitarMelli. Kayaking: Kayaking is

done in relatively calm water. But in Sikkim, Kayaking is undertaken on the Teesta
river for very experienced adventurers. Trekking: Sikkim is a place for novice as well
as the most experienced trekkers. Trekkers get all types of assistance from Adventure
Division of Sikkim Tourism in Gangtok or from any recognized Travel Agents. The
following itineraries have been drown up with Yuksam as base. Trekkers hut along
trek routes are at Pemayangtse, Khachopalri, Yuksam, Tsokha, Dzongri, Thangshing,
Tashiding, Varsey, Yangang, Rabongla, Sang andSikip. Some of the important treks
are:Rhododendron
Trek
(March-May):
NayabazarHilley/SorengVersey
DentamPemayangtse. Kanchanjunga Trek ( Mid March-Mid June/ OctoberDecember):
YuksamBakimTsokhaDzongriThangshing/
Bikbari
Zemathang/ ChaurigangGoecha la/ Rathong Glacier and back. Coronation Trek

(OctoberDecember):RumtekSangYangangRabonglaTashidingYuksam.
Trekking Information
Page 36
The treks will not be exceptionally difficult though one must be in good physical
shape before taking the journey, since the altitude varies from 6000 ft. to around
14000 ft. Some trekking experience is required and a good guide familiar with the
topography will be advisable. Most of the camps have primary Health Centers but it
is advisable to have personal medical kits. Equipments include the light weight
trekking shoes, two/ three pairs of woolen shirts, thick trousers, pullovers, wind proof
jacket, cap, anti-sunburn cream, sleeping bags. Rack sacks, sleeping bags,. Tents,
jackets can be hired from the Tourism Office at very nominal rate. Besides, all
environmental rules and regulations, general rules need to be maintained.
Rumtek Monastery
It is just 24 km. away on the lower valleys of south-west Gangtok. It is the
headquarter of Kagyu (black hat) order of Tibetian Lamaistic Buddhism. It has the
typical monastic paintings and intricate woodwork. After 1959 the older Sikkim
perched on the spur of the hill has recently been renovated but without interfacing
with the original traditional architecture. The monastery .
Forestry and Wildlife
Sikkim is situated in a geographically fragile and ecologically sensitive mountainous
terrain and has over 81 per cent of the total geographical area of the State under the
administrative control of Forest, Environment and Wildlife Department. The forest
cover has increased from 37 per cent to about 45 per cent of the total geographical
area of the State during the last two decades.
Biodiversity:
Totally five types of forests are found in Sikkim comprising the total vegetation and
largely depends on the altitude of the area. They are: Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest,
Sub-Tropical Semi-Evergreen Forests, Temperate Broad Leaved Forests, Sub-Alpine
Mixed Coniferous Forests and Alpine Scrubs. This small mountainous terrain is
Page 37
abound by four hundred species of flowering plants, three hundred species of ferns
and allies, eleven species of oaks, eight species of tree ferns, forty species of Primulas
and twenty species of bamboo, five hundred fifty five species of Orchids, thirty six
species of rhododendrons and nine species of conifers. A large number of medicinal
herbs and shrubs are found in Sikkim. A large variety of plants and algae have very
good quality food value for humans. A wide variety of faunal species include one
hundred forty four species of mammals, six hundred species of birds, five hundred
fifty species of butterflies and thirty three species of reptiles and sixteen species of
frogs.
1.7 Conclusion
This chapter has conceptualize tourism phenomenon of Sikkim with respect to a
broader aspect. An understanding of the differences and similarities between
marketing for goods/ services and destination has been sought along with the analysis
of the marketing environment with its strategic orientation that is evident in Sikkim.
The analysis and interpretation of this chapter essentially started with the arrival data
of tourists as it implies the demand for a destination and pushes supply components
therein. This arrival data, along with the sector specific importance, helped in
understanding the trend of visit, growth rate pattern and peak and trough of the
demand. Though Sikkim has a trend of the increasing domestic and international
tourist arrivals, yet it is underperforming with limited routes, poor number of foreign
tourists and poor per-capita spending of tourists. The growth percentages for domestic
tourists were found to have double digits mostly after the year 2002. The forecasted
growth rate for the arrivals of domestic and international tourists were 615383 and
24101 respectively in the year 2013 without considering the recently occurred earth
quake in 18th September, 2011. The analysis of trend also highlighted a massive
growth during 2007-08 and the number of persons visited was always higher than the
Page 38
year 2004-05. Earlier analysis is contradictory in that the peak season 2 for domestic
tourism in Sikkim is found during the months of April to June afterwards the rainy
season starts and the number of arrival decreases. Though the month of April is found
to be ever increasing in terms of domestic tourist arrivals over the years, yet a peak
and trough is noticeable through the fluctuation in domestic tourist arrivals during the
months of May and June over the years. The dominant position of domestic tourist
arrivals in Sikkim with this fluctuating mode may unstable supply side components of
the destination and its management. This will have an adverse impact on foreign
tourist arrivals also. The direction of tourism development with all supply
components has to be determined as to how to manage all resources and its allocation.
Types of tourism, types of tourists, spending pattern, future intention and retention
study, alternative routes and channelization of tourist traffic are found to be the core
areas of development and management of Sikkim as a destination.
It is noteworthy that the peak season and lean season separately for domestic and international
tourists were found in this study.
Page 39

Tourism - A Conceptual Framework

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Tourism - A Conceptual Framework

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Chapter I- Tourism: A Conceptual Framework

Tourism: Concept, Definitions, Types and Historical Development

Destination: Meaning, Destination Policy, Planning, Development and

Tourism in the World Scenario

Tourism in India : An Overview

Tourism Development in Sikkim

Geographical Importance of Sikkim

Tourism Potentials of Sikkim

Tourism Products in Sikkim

Chapter I- Tourism: A Conceptual Framework

Chapter I- Tourism: A Conceptual Framework

remunerated activity. Tourism is an activity of traveling people in the places outside

Chapter I- Tourism: A Conceptual Framework

Chapter I- Tourism: A Conceptual Framework

trend in comparatively old destinations of Sikkim is the increasing

Chapter I- Tourism: A Conceptual Framework

Chapter I- Tourism: A Conceptual Framework

religion. The powerful

influences of a crusading religion slowly penetrated a foreign land

Chapter I- Tourism: A Conceptual Framework

Baptist preachers of Derbyshire engaged a special train from Leicester to

During the Industrial Revolution, paid annual holidays were

Chapter I- Tourism: A Conceptual Framework

This was an increase of

Economic fluctuations resulted in

incomes coupled with increasing prosperity induced a higher purchasing power

1.2 Destination: Meaning, Destination Policy, Planning, Development

Chapter I- Tourism: A Conceptual Framework

et al. (2000) refer to: strategic

organization management. For destination purposes, strategic planning may be

Chapter I- Tourism: A Conceptual Framework

organizational structures, tourism related legislation and regulations, education and

1.3 Tourism in the World Scenario

Chapter I- Tourism: A Conceptual Framework

1.4 Tourism in India: An Overview

Chapter I- Tourism: A Conceptual Framework

Chapter I- Tourism: A Conceptual Framework

Figure 1.1 Development Initiative of Tourism in India

To survey the potentials of developing

recommended one Central Office and regional

Chapter I- Tourism: A Conceptual Framework

Objectives and Importance

legislative matters, Five Year Plans, travel

With the help of this Act the Government of

Chapter I- Tourism: A Conceptual Framework

Objectives and Importance

Aviation was formed into a separate Ministry

Changes of name of the Ministry Aviation, with two constituent departments

Department of Civil Aviation

Objectives and Importance

Setting up of Jha Committee

Corporation Limited. These three undertakings

were set up under the provision of the

Chapter I- Tourism: A Conceptual Framework

Objectives and Importance

Setting up of India Tourism

Only export industry status was accorded and

Development Corporation (1966)

not the status of an infrastructure industry as

1st ever Tourism Policy of the

Development of adventure sports.

Exploring new source markets

came into being during 1982.

Restoration of national heritage projects.

, and mean significant at 1%, 5% and 10 % respectively.